Customizing a BC

[Jack Cummins]

Wouldn't using non-OEM parts void any warranty?

 

[scubadoguk]

Wouldn't using non-OEM parts void any warranty?

Yep so would altering it to put two straps on ?? buy a new cam strap soak it to take the new nylon stiffness, re thread and fix is done! trident sell one as do others, the steel cam straps are over kill.
I set thousands of tanks using nylon/plastic buckles had a few slip 99% stay and a very few cam buckles break but all of the broke ones were on rental gear in a store and all were 5 yrs old plus.
not worth customising a bcd for a tank band just change it.

 

[Boogie711]

Well..... My Halcyon plate doesn't use a STA. It actually just has slots for the 2 cam straps and the wing is made for it as well with the slots.

Yes, it does have an STA. It's built right into the wing. Whether it's incorporated or not, BP & wings incorporate an STA, so the very concept of a tank sitting 'bare' against a backplate is just plain wrong...

 

[ScubaRon]

That tank looks aweful low in that picture. I hope it didn't slip!

Does anyone know where I can find a good deal on some of the big stainless halcyon super cam buckles, or does anyone make a similar buckle? Those things look heavy duty. But a pair of those buckles retails for as much as a tank.

Low? It is perfectly sized.

As for cam buckles: Dive Rite makes several types of heavy duty systems.

 

[ScubaRon]

I have a Sea-quest Pro QD+SL. I love the BC but it only has one tank band. I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to attach a second tank band or if anyone knew a company that could do the work? Also does anyone have any advice on how to keep a tank from slipping?

I have had some modifications made on my BC by a local shoe repair shop. They generally have the heavy duty stitching equipment, but you will have to find the parts and make the design.

 

[loosebits]

Well, Loosebits - pardon me if I say it looks like you've apparently never actually DOVE with a BP/Wing. Do you have any idea what a single tank adaptor is????

If you did, you would have realized that statement is just plain wrong.

Sheesh.

Ouch. That was rude.

I dive a zeagle BP & wing. It does not require a STA. I do have an idea what an STA is. It's a peice of metal with 2 cam straps that bolts onto the bp. With my Zeagle BP, if I only had one cam strap, nothing would keep the tank from pivoting by twisting the cam strap.

I've attached a picture of my bp/wings and as you can see, the plate bends out towards the tank (as opposed to bending around the tank). Without 2 cam straps, the tank wouldn't stay in the correct position.

Perhaps you just misunderstood something I said but I think you owe me an apology.

 

[Boogie711]

Brainfart on my part... I guess, in the incredibly stupid event that you used only your camband to secure your wing to your BP, rather than bolting it on, and THEN you were silly enough to only use one camband on top of that, yeah, I guess your wing could go very slightly squirrely. But the tank STILL isn't sitting bare against a flat BP!

Anyway - sorry Loosebits. I'll wear it when I deserve it. I still believe double cam straps are the way to go, and are far from a 'marketing tool.'

 

[jonnythan]

Ouch. That was rude.

I dive a zeagle BP & wing. It does not require a STA. I do have an idea what an STA is. It's a peice of metal with 2 cam straps that bolts onto the bp. With my Zeagle BP, if I only had one cam strap, nothing would keep the tank from pivoting by twisting the cam strap.

I've attached a picture of my bp/wings and as you can see, the plate bends out towards the tank (as opposed to bending around the tank). Without 2 cam straps, the tank wouldn't stay in the correct position.

Perhaps you just misunderstood something I said but I think you owe me an apology.

Wow. I don't think anyone owes you an apology. That looks like a terrible system and I can't imagine even using it. There's no way that's as stable as a wing with either a built in STA or a regular STA.

With a "normal" bp/wing setup, the cam bands go directly through either the backplate or the STA, and they're still stable and unable to be twisted when using just one strap.

 

[loosebits]

Brainfart on my part... I guess, in the incredibly stupid event that you used only your camband to secure your wing to your BP, rather than bolting it on, and THEN you were silly enough to only use one camband on top of that, yeah, I guess your wing could go squirrely. But - why on earth would you do that???

Fair enough - sorry Loosebits. I'll wear it when I deserve it. I still believe double cam straps are the way to go, and are far from a 'marketing tool.'

I think you've misunderstood something I said (thanks for the apology though). I was refering to the *backplate* in jacket style BCs - the hard plastic peice that has a slight curve in it for the tank. The cam strap is attached to the plastic backplate. I see no reason for 2 cam straps in that case because the curve in the backplate won't allow the tank to pivot.

On my Zeagle, I am not using the cam bands to secure the wing to the backplate, the Zeagle BP has some extra (non-standard) mounting holes that are used to affix the wing. The wing is bolted on with 8 bolts around the inside of the wing. I can use the Zeagle BP with any wing (it has all of the standard holes) but the wing will only mount on Zeagle BPs. I understand that in the case of most other BPs that work without an STA, the cam straps go through slots cut in the plate and then through slots cut in the wing and then around the tank. I've heard that many people who change their rig out for doubles and singles don't bother bolting the wing on when using singles and just use the tank and the cam straps to keep the wing in place. I have no idea how secure this would be (as far as preventing the wing from moving around a little) but it seems like it would work.

 

[ScubaRon]

With a "normal" bp/wing setup, the cam bands go directly through either the backplate or the STA, and they're still stable and unable to be twisted when using just one strap.

As far as I can see the straps do go through the BP.

Double straps are not a marketing ploy, but an absolute necessity if there is no hard backpack/plate that securely curves around the tank.